Galiette Earns Schenkel Award from NFF

Dick Galiette, the legendary former voice of Yale football on WELI Radio, has been named a co-recipient of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's 2008 Schenkel Award.

The Schenkel Award will be presented at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Also that evening, the NFF will present its major award winners, recognize the national scholar-athlete class, award the Draddy Trophy and induct the 2008 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class.

Named in honor of its first recipient, legendary network broadcaster Chris Schenkel, the Schenkel Award seeks to recognize a sports broadcaster who has enjoyed a long and distinguished career broadcasting college football at a single institution.

A fixture at Yale for more than 30 years, Galiette will forever be remembered as one of the Ivy League's most beloved broadcasters.

Known as one of Yale football's biggest fans, Galiette served as the university's play-by-play announcer from 1963-87 and then again from 1997 until his death in October 2005. From 1964-81, the seven-time Connecticut Sportscaster of the Year also acted as a sports anchor at WTNH-TV and worked as a SportsCenter anchor for ESPN in the early 80s.

The first media member inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Galiette served as the executive director of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for six years and was the 1968 recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Award. He also was a member of the NFL's Blue Ribbon Committee, selecting the NFL High School Football Coach of the Year.

"This is an exceptional tribute to an "exceptional man." Yale University and all of the men of Yale Football and their families want to thank the National Football Foundation for honoring the lifetime of work of our great friend, Dick Galiette. We are most grateful and very proud," said Tom Beckett, Yale's Director of Athletics.

A consummate professional, Galiette was known for his passion and enthusiasm. Ron Vaccaro '04, who replaced Galiette as the Bulldogs' announcer, recalled asking him if he had any favorite players during his many years at Yale. Galiette replied, "[There are] too many to mention, but they all wore the uniform and gave it their all."

"Dick Galiette loved Yale Football, and accordingly treated each game as if it was the Super Bowl. I am thrilled that this award recognizes him for not only being an outstanding announcer, but also one of the classiest men to ever call broadcasting their profression. His legacy of excellence will live on at Yale for many years," said Vaccaro.